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Atlético Madrid meet Barcelona for the fifth time this campaign as they head to Camp Nou aiming to secure an advantage to bring back to the Metropolitano in the opening leg of the Champions League quarterfinals.
Diego Simeone's squad makes the journey to Catalonia just four days after suffering a painful 2–1 loss to Barça in La Liga. Nevertheless, several key players were held back, including Julián Álvarez, Ademola Lookman and Dávid Hancko—and even fielding a patched-up XI while playing with 10 men for much of the match, Atléti came close to salvaging a point against the league leaders.
There will be no shortage of belief within Simeone's camp that they can overcome their Spanish rivals and advance in the Champions League, particularly with the memory of their victorious Copa del Rey semifinal tie earlier this season still vivid.
Barcelona have remained unbeaten since returning to Camp Nou last November, but Los Rojiblancos know from experience that beating the Catalans is achievable by simply keeping the tie competitive and sealing it at home in the second leg, as they managed on two separate occasions during the mid-2010s.
Oblak Return Boosts Atléti's Hopes
The news of world-class goalkeeper Jan Oblak rejoining training ahead of the Barcelona trip provided a significant lift, with the Slovenian potentially set to start between the sticks at Camp Nou. Marc Pubill and winter arrival Rodrigo Mendoza also returned to the training pitch and could both be available for Wednesday's clash.
The same cannot be said for the trio of Pablo Barrios, José María Giménez and U.S. men's national team midfielder Johnny Cardoso, all of whom will sit out the first leg due to fitness concerns.
Lookman, Álvarez, Hancko and Matteo Ruggeri, who were all absent from Saturday's defeat to Barça, are each expected to start in the second installment of April's trilogy of fixtures.
Atlético Madrid Predicted Lineup vs. Barcelona (4-4-2)
GK: Jan Oblak—Oblak was outstanding in containing the fearsome "MSN" trio the last time Atléti faced Barça in the Champions League quarterfinals, and he'll be eager to reproduce that display a decade on.
RB: Marc Pubill—Returning after a three-game absence, the young Spaniard will look to build on what has been a very impressive debut season with Los Rojiblancos.
CB: Robin Le Normand—The seasoned center back will need to stay alert and provide cover for Pubill whenever Marcus Rashford cuts inside, to prevent a repeat of the situation that led to Barça's equalizer at the weekend.
CB: Dávid Hancko—Rested on Saturday, Atléti's most reliable center back this season returns to the starting XI tasked with containing arguably the most dangerous attack in European football.
LB: Matteo Ruggeri—Few left backs in world football have been tested by Lamine Yamal as frequently as Ruggeri, yet the Italian has also managed to keep the electrifying winger in check in their previous encounter, and he'll be hoping to do so once more.
RM: Giuliano Simeone—The lively Argentine netted against Barça on Saturday, and his dynamism and pace have been crucial in generating threats down the right flank against a defense susceptible to being caught out of position.
DM: Marcos Llorente—The relentless Spaniard is having one of the finest campaigns of his career, and with Barrios and Cardoso still recovering, he'll demonstrate his adaptability by slotting into the base of midfield.
DM: Koke—A veteran presence at the core of Atléti's midfield, Koke provides the grit and work rate that will be essential in a match where Simeone's side are unlikely to enjoy significant possession.
LM: Ademola Lookman—What an acquisition Lookman has proven to be since his January arrival. Typically attacking from the weak side, he uses his sharpness to exploit space while also contributing considerably in defensive duties.
ST: Antoine Griezmann—Griezmann's intelligence and technical quality have been a lifeline for Atléti in retaining possession against Barça in recent meetings, easing the burden on the defensive block. His clever movement and ability to find pockets of space before threading passes to runners will keep the hosts constantly guessing.
ST: Julián Álvarez—Persistently linked with a move to Barcelona, Álvarez will have yet another opportunity to demonstrate precisely why the Catalans appear so captivated by the idea of luring him away from Atléti.